Nothing feels as good as looking out and seeing your lush green lawn, and this will impress not only you but also impress your neighbors, and this can only be achieved by using the correct type of lawn mower. Whether it's a lawn tractor for the large yards or a classic push mower, the market has several brands you can choose from, and figuring which brand is the best for an individual budget and any lawn size needs can be pretty overwhelming. This guide will add some clarity and help your decision-making process easier by reviewing some of the best lawn mower brands in the market with their best product. Let's get started!
What is a Lawn Mower?
A lawn-mower is an essential tool for people living in urban and suburban areas, and a tractor or lawn mower is a tool you can depend on to get the job done right. Lawn mowers are very effective tools for keeping your garden well-manicured, and one of the first things to select the type of lawn mower, which should be according to the lawn size.
With several mower types available in the market, finding one that will work your lawn is a task that will send shoppers into a frenzy with having to choose between 2 stroke, 4-stroke, electric mowers, and self-propelled models, and this can be enough to have someone else cut your lawn down for you, and this shouldn't be the case.
When shoppers are looking for the best lawn mower brands in the market, they are usually looking for quality if cut, value for money, reliability, and ease of use, and so on, and this is why the below information we have compiled will come in handy the next time you need to replace your lawn mower.
What is the most affordable brand of lawn mower?
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1. Craftsman Lawn Mowers
Craftsman company is known for its home improvement and power tools, and the company has been in business since 1927 and has been a leading supplier of lawn care equipment, including lawn mowers. Craftsman lawn tractors remain among the best lawn mower brands in the market, and it sells a wide range of self-propelled stand-behind mowers.
Some of their types of mowers include cordless push lawn mowers, riding lawn mowers, self-propelled walk-behind mowers. Even though Craftsman lawn tractors remain for residential use, they have a few wide-cutting deck varieties that can be used for commercial purposes.
Best Craftsman Lawn Mower: Craftsman M105 140cc Gas Powered Push 21-Inch 3-in-1 Lawn Mower
- 140CC OHV GAS POWERED ENGINE: Engine comes equipped with recoil and auto choke. No more fussing with a primer...
- 3-IN-1 CAPABILITIES: Unit has side discharge, rear discharge, and mulching capabilities.
- 21-INCH CUTTING DECK: Efficient cutting deck helps trim grass in one quick pass for an easier yard job.
- DUAL-LEVER ADJUSTABLE CUTTING HEIGHT: Choose from 6 different height settings to suit user’s needs.
- DURABLE WHEELS: Zag Treaded tires measure 7 inches in the front and 8 inches in the back.
Craftsman M105 is a 3-in-1 mower, and it remains one of the best mid-range gas lawn mowers; they include some great features for their price. For example, the gas mowers come with a 21-inch cutting deck for easy and fast mowing, making it suitable for both the small and medium-sized lawn, and a trusty Craftsman 140CC OHVengine powers them with an auto choke to allow hassle-free start-up.
Craftsman M105 gas-powered mower will continue to live up to standards set by its predecessors, and thanks to a lightweight and durable design, and it's one of the best lawn mowers for rough terrain. As a result, craftsman M105 is highly recommended for buyers looking for a quality new lawn mower at a great price despite its wheel size.
2. Honda Lawn Mowers
Honda was founded in 1946 and has been one of the leading and best lawn mower brands in the market for years. It has also been the most prominent company manufacturing motorcycles and manufacturers of other equipment and power tools. The production of lawn equipment started in the 1980s, and it includes lawn mowers even though the company manufactures a wide range of products in garden care and lawn care.
Honda comes with various lawn-mowers, and they fall into different price ranges; if you are budgeting or you prefer old lawn-mowers, there's a series of push mowers to pick from. Honda lawn mowers are famous for their reliability and long life and excellent lawn mowers, including push behind and robotic mowers. The brand also includes the Smart Drive system, which allows you to set the speed of a lawn mower based on your comfort, and a Twin Blade Microcut system that allows mowing of grass to perfection.
Best Honda Lawn Mower: Honda 663020 21 in. GCV170 Engine Smart Drive Variable Speed 3-in-1 Self Propelled Lawn Mower
- Includes full manufacturer warranty
Honda 663020 self-propelled mowers are reliable and robust mowers that combine ease of use and ruggedness. They feature a composite deck that minimizes rust and qualifies as a lighter mower and also has a variable speed control lever that allows you to change the pace to fit your comfort. In addition, the push lawn mower includes a powerful 200cc engine clip director and MicroCut twin blades that are super quiet and efficient.
Honda 663020 push lawn mower features a 4-in-1 versamow system that allows users to easily and quickly switch between bagging, leaf shredding, mulching, and discharging. Also, you can control how fast the walk-behind mowers are going by pressing the handle, and the harder you squeeze the handle, the faster the machine goes.
3. Husqvarna Lawn Mowers
Husqvarna is known for the line of chainsaws, and the Husqvarna mowers are known for their reliability and power. The Sweden-based Husqvarna manufactures high-end outdoor power tools, and the company owns some brands, including Gardena, Flymo, WeedEater, and others. The company is one of the best lawn mower brands, and it started manufacturing lawn mowers in 1919 and performed its first test with a powered engine in 1947.
Some Husqvarna models have a clear innovative Clear Cut cutting deck, which can mow grass to precision, especially on uneven terrain. The brand also comes with a series of automated lawn mowers, and they don't even need you to monitor it where the robotic mower is designed to trim the grass on a pre-programmed schedule. The program changes periodically based on the grass length, and it also makes your lawn look pristine.
Best Husqvarna Lawn Mower: Husqvarna Z242F 42 in. 18 HP Kawasaki Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower
- 18 HP Kawasaki engine provides reliable startups and a max speed of 6.5 MPH
- Hydrostatic, no-maintenance transmission is worry free, allowing the mower to take on a variety of cutting...
- A patent-pending park brake system automatically activates or deactivates as the steering levers are moved...
- ClearCut deck offers a best-in-class 42 in. cut and better bagging thanks to its deep deck design, superior...
- Clippings can be discharged, mulched or bagged (mulching kit and bagger attachment sold separately)
Husqvarna Z242F is among the best zero-turn mowers, and even though it comes at a premium price, it's worth the investment. The zero-turn riding mower features an 18HP Kawasaki engine that provides reliable start-ups and a maximum 6.5 MPH speed. In addition, thanks to the hydrostatic no-maintenance transmission, it will allow your zero-turn mower to manage different temperature cutting conditions.
Husqvarna Z242F zero turn riding mower uses a patent-pending brake system that automatically activates or deactivates as you move the steering levers inward or outward. In addition, the ClearCut deck gives the best 42 inches cut and the best bagging thanks to the deep deck design, the high-performance blades, and the superior air flow.
4. Toro Mowers
Toro lawn mowers are known for the best-known names in push lawn mowers, and it has a reputation for reliability and durability. The brand has several user-friendly models of lawn mowers, and they come at a reasonable price, and they have a large variety of push mowers and heavy-duty riding.
Their engines run on the Powe Reverse Technology, which adjusts to your walking speed, and you can stop mowing, rake in the debris, and start moving again without worrying about restarting the engine. It is among the best lawn mower brands, and it's designed with twin blades that cut grass effortlessly, and in half the time you may take with other mowers. In addition, the engine is highly reliable, and most models pack a five-year guarantee.
Best Toro Lawn Mower: TORO 22In FWD Recycler SmartStow
- Sold on Amazon
Toro 22-inch FWD Recycler smartstow is one of the best Toro mowers, and it uses a Smartstow technology that streamlines your storage footprint by even 70%. In addition, it comfortably handles bumpy ground smoothly, even with 11-inch rear wheels. Its front-wheel drive is powered by the variable speed transmission that hits speeds of up to 4 MPH and usually engages and disengages manually with a single lever.
The Toro lawn mowers include a 22-inch recycler steel deck and use the powerful 190cc Briggs & Stratton engines, and as a result, it produces 7.25 horsepower and will quickly start without a choke or a primer. In addition, since it's from one of the best lawn mower brands, it packs a two-year warranty coverage, and you are sure that it will start with the first or second pull in the first three years.
5. Cub Cadet
Cub Cadet doesn't have any cheap mowers in their catalog, and this is because they feature a durable design and a consistent quality. Each lawn mower engine is tested to its limits before it can be shipped off for sale, and this ensures that all consumers will get their money's worth. In addition, the Cub Cadet mowers are better at mulching, and this retains the soil's nutrition, and this is because of their Aero Force deck that's fitted with premium blades that pass through rigorous certification.
The Ohio-based lawn mower brand began with building small farm tractors in the 1960s, and today they have been some of their best lawn mowers in the market. However, just like some of the best lawn mower brands on this list, Cub Cadet is more on the expensive side, and you can blae their high price for their premium features such as pedal speed control and cruise control.
Best Cub Cadet Lawn Mower: Cub Cadet 22 in. 159 cc Gas Walk-Behind String Trimmer
- Sold on Amazon
Cub Cadet Lawn Mower is a 22-inch gas push mower that trims up vast areas of weeds or grass in a few seconds. Club Cadet walk-behind mower has a stamped steel cutting deck that can be set at seven different heights depending on what you are trimming and the weather conditions where it can trim as low as 2.375 inches or as high as 4.375 inches.
Cub Cadet Lawn Mower uses a 159cc gasoline engine that offers an incredible amount of torque to the lightweight cutting deck, and when it has a full tank, it can cut up to half an acre. Additionally, it includes an automatic choke that doesn't need any priming for an easy start-up, and this is less risk of flooding your engine.
Types of Lawn Mowers
a). Push Lawn Mowers
These mowers are to be pushed physically, and they usually make little to no sound, and they will not be as powerful as some types of lawn-mowers that are especially relevant for long grass blades.
b). Riding lawn mowers
The riding lawn mowers are just like their name, and they are designed so that you can mow the lawn; these lawn mowers resemble a tractor, and they are better for more extensive lawns.
c). Manually propelled lawn mowers/ Self-propelled lawn mowers
These lawn mowers don't need to be pushed physically to move, and they need to be guided, and the self-propelled lawn mowers are usually either rear-wheel drive and front-wheel drive.
d). Zero-turn lawn mowers
These lawn mowers operate like a riding lawn mower, but the riding lawn mower is found in front of the machine, allowing easy maneuvering. As a result, these lawn mowers are more suitable for commercial properties and more extensive lawns.
e). Robotic lawn mowers
Robotic mowers are just like they sound, and all you need to do is set them up, and they will mow the lawn for you. The lawn mower is more suitable for a small yard that is no bigger than 0.5 acres.
Factors to Consider Before Purchasing the Best Lawn Mower Brands
When shopping for one of the best lawn mower brands, there are several varieties in the market, including electric, robotic zero-turn mowers, and cordless lawn mowers. This is a guide to help you decide which lawn mower will be the best in every category.
1. How to Choose the Best Riding Lawn Mower?
When purchasing riding mowers, several variables must be considered, and you may need to choose something quite powerful. This may mean a machine that is easy to control and has the right tires with a large cutting deck to maximize efficiency and get the job done faster. They include:
a). Engine
When looking for riding mowers, you get rear-engine tractors, and a rear-engine lawn mower has an engine that ranges between 190 and 540cc, and contrarily a tractor's engine displacement may fall between 400 and 750CC. So for lawns that are as big as an acre, a rear-engine lawn mower will be adequate, but for anything more extensive, and that is between one to three acres, and you may want to opt for a tractor mower.
You may also want to consider manual versus automatic transmissions, which may allow you to modify the speed using a clutch and a shift. However, automatic systems are pretty similar to cars, and they may speed up when you hit the gas and slow down when you step on the brakes.
b). Uphill Riding
A riding lawn mower is approved for the uphill sloped lawns and steep hills as steep as 15 degrees, and anything higher may be a challenge and could be a danger for toppling over. A tractor lawn mower can be pushed up to 22-degree hills, and you may want to opt for a balanced center of gravity where there is even weight distribution. Also, ensure you know what surfaces you are riding on, which helps prevent toppling over and preventing injury while using these heavy machines.
c). Tires
Lawn mower tires usually provide an excellent grip on the rough terrains and wet ground, and even though you need to avoid mowing the lawn when it's raining, wait until the lawn is dry if possible. The tires should feature a broad base, durable body with multiple plies, turf protection tread, easy turning angles, and a high weight capacity.
2. How Do you Choose the Best Electric Lawn Mower?
These mowers operate on electric power, and you may need to plug it into an outlet to produce power, and you will have to mow your lawn when it's plugged in. Many electric lawn mowers will let you connect an extension cord even though manufacturers suggest limiting the extensions to about 100 feet or less to prevent losing power.
a). Corded or Cordless
When selecting between a corded and a cordless model, a cordless mower is limited to the cord's length plus 100 feet maximum before you lose the efficiency or power. Cordless mowers or battery-powered mowers have a battery life that lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, and you can buy a dual-battery cordless mower which may last up to 90 minutes on a single charge. When it comes to distance, a corded mower is suitable for a quarter to acre lawns, and battery-powered mower or cordless models may operate up to two-acre distances depending on your lawn size. As a result, you may find that one option may be superior to another.
b). Folding & Ease of Storage
These electric mowers may not be easy to store before putting the lawn mower away, and therefore, it's easy to look for a lawn mower that folds away easily. Most of them fold from the handle, and they will flip down into a small size which you can store at a garage corner.
c). Battery Life
This applies to cordless lawn mowers, where most of them will feature a battery between 2Ah and 4Ah, and they are capable of mowing for about 30 to 60 minutes. However, some manufacturers may sell dual-battery models, which may produce double the battery life, and the price you may pay for the battery manufacturer's use will dictate how long your lawn mower will operate on a single charge.
d). Charging/Battery Replacement
Quality and great electric lawn mower will last for about ten years with regular maintenance, and you may have to replace your battery every few years to ensure it keeps operating at total capacity. This is because most lawn mower batteries lose about 5% power every year and when to replace the battery is up to the owner, but you should wait about four years before you replace it.
3. How to Choose a Perfect Robotic Lawn Mower?
Robotic mowers are a bit new to the family of mowers, and they are more suitable for small lawns as they are easy to operate, and you don't have to do the work yourself.
a). The Volume/Capacity
Some mowers can cut lawns above one acre, and robotic mowers are suitable for lawns of a quarter acre to 1.5 acres because of their battery life. In addition, most of them don't get jammed with grass clippings, thick grass, and clumps because they have a side discharge, thin blades, and auto settings that will detect any clumping.
Also, most mowers feature technologies that will go in reverse, preventing jamming when mowing. So, so long as the battery is operating, you can expect your lawn-mower to handle anything without jamming.
b). Cutting Deck
Even though some robotic mowers feature commercial-grade robotic mowers with large cutting decks of up to 44", the average residential lawn mower has a floating deck that allows owners to adjust grass and blade height settings easily. The mower deck of most robotic best lawn mower brands is about 22 inches.
c). Battery-life & Uphill Mowing
The battery life of a robotic mower depends on lawn mower brands, where every manufacturer uses different rechargeable and lithium-ion batteries. With the best mowers, you can get a 1-hour mow, and in terms of charging time, it may take about 45 to 70 minutes to recharge the batteries fully. However, when it comes to uphill mowing capabilities, a robotic mower cannot do what zero-turn mowers can. Even though it can handle gradient inclines of 8.5 degrees, all robotic mowers can handle this.
4. How to Choose the Best Zero-turn Lawn Mower?
Zero-turn mowers are the best when it comes to lawn mowers, and they are worth it for residential lawns depending on several variables, including lawn size and the slopes of lawn you are mowing.
a). Engine/Transmission
Zero-turn mowers usually use a hydrostatic transmission or a rear engine transmission; a hydro-gear transmission is fitted to help power the ZTR efficiently. A hydrostatic transmission will use hydraulic fluids to shift the gears automatically, and you may think of an automatic car placed inside a lawn mower.
The RPM, horsepower, fuel efficiency, speed settings, and a few of the many variables that the engine transmission will dictate. Ensure you know how powerful ZTR is; make sure you get it before choosing your zero-turn mower.
b). Turning Radius
The zero-turn lawn mower turning radius is zero degrees, and when mowing the lawn, this means that you can turn anywhere without any difficulty and will evenly mow the lawn. The lawn mower is easy to work around tight edges and highly maneuverable, and it can mow any grass or lawn.
c). Speed & Braking
Speed settings on ZTR are based on the manufacturer, model, and mower's engine, and these systems will go at different speeds whether you are riding forward and mow in reverse. For the best lawn mowers brands, you can achieve a speed of up to 6 or 7MPH when moving forward and 2 to 3 MPH in reverse, and every manufacturer has different specs so that you ensure you can check this out before choosing your lawn mower.
Most zero-turn mowers don't have a foot brake, and you will need to utilize handles and control speed and brake your lawn mower and slow down; you will bring the handle back towards your body towards a neutral position. ZTR also comes with an emergency brake system, and you may need to stop all of a sudden, and the string handles may be operating efficiently as much as you'd like them to.
d). Design & Comfort
When choosing a ZTR, ergonomic seat design is among the main selling points of overriding mowers. These lawn mowers have tall seat-backs, adjustable lumbar and leg support, padded armrests, other padded lawn mowers back and cushions, removable footpads and pedals, and adjustment features for every rider. In addition, suspension systems will help improve riding comfort and minimize the impact on its landing, and the adjustable shocks and the coils will help improve your stability.
5. How Do You Choose the Best Cordless Lawn Mower?
A cordless lawn mower will have a basic understanding of how they operate and will be
a). Battery Quality
The higher the voltage, the extra power you will get from your lawn mower, and depending on the lawn size, the battery voltage you choose will differ for all homeowners when purchasing cordless lawn mowers. You should consider variables such as dual-battery model, charge time, the name brand, and how much power a battery will lose annually. Keep in mind that if you want more excellent battery life and more power, you will have to pay a little more fr your lawnmower.
b). Blade Material & Cutting Height Adjustment
Most cordless mowers will have adjustable cutting heights, and they usually fall between 1.5 inches to 3 inches and remember, every lawn mower brand has different height adjustment settings. The way you change your settings varies with each lawn mower, and most of them have a lever or an adjustment knob, which allows you to change the blade height easily.
All the best lawn mower brands come with different blades, and they may include mulching blades, deck, standard blades, straight or flat blades, and low or high-lift blades. In addition, most manufacturers produce stainless steel blades, and they are easier to maintain, weatherproof, rustproof, and easy to sharpen and these blades can cut through thick, dense grass and work through a lot of obstructions in the lawn.
c). Lawn Size Capabilities
The cords do not restrict all cordless lawn mower brands, which is among their most significant selling points when compared to other traditional electrical lawn mower brands. The only restriction may be how long the battery may last before they die on you when mowing a lawn. Cordless mower brands are suitable for quarter-acre to acre lawns, and you should note obstructions, flat and smooth surfaces, the cutting width, hills, or steep inclines.
d). Grass Bag Capacity
Cordless mowers are expected to have a grass bag capacity of about two to three bushels. However, this usually varies depending on the size of the lawn mower brand, its mowing capacity, and if it has a bagging side discharge and a mulching feature.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Lawn Mower Brands
1. Why are zero-turn lawn mowers more expensive?
There are several reasons a ZTR mower is the most expensive lawn-mower, and some of the reasons include:
- They are more powerful, and they can mow any grass or terrain
- It can mow in different directions, and the angles effectively
- They will save you time, and they will outlast any lawn-mower
- It's multifunctional, and the lawn-mower has no issues with tight areas or obstructions
- The zero push-through large areas of land quickly
2. How long should a lawn mower last?
Most mowers will last around ten years, but that may vary based on how often you use them, the climate you live in, and the size of your lawn. If you notice any of these problems with your mower, it may be time to look into purchasing a new one.
3. How does John Deere compare to Husqvarna?
More than 30% of Husqvarna lawn tractors usually need repair, and therefore John Deere lawn tractors win when it comes to the best zero-turn mowers. John Deere zero-turn mowers will come at a 30% chance of necessary repairs in about four years, and Husqvarna has proved the most unreliable zero-turn mower on the list, where 55% of their mowers may need repair by their fourth year. Some other best lawn mower brands worth mentioning are American lawn mowers and Troy Bilt lawn mowers.
